Obadiah B. McFadden

Obadiah McFadden was born in West Middletown, Pennsylvania on November 18, 1815.[1] He was then educated locally in Washington County, Pennsylvania at the public schools and at McKeever Academy.[1] Then in 1837 he married Margaret Caldwell.[2] By 1843 he had been admitted to the bar allowing him to practice law.[2]

In 1853, U.S. President Franklin Pierce appointed McFadden an associate justice of the Oregon Supreme Court during the territorial period on a temporary assignment to replace Matthew Deady.[2] His term ended in 1854 and he left the Oregon court.[3] At the time he was one of three justices on the bench of the court.[3] Then in 1854 he was appointed to the Washington Supreme Court when Washington Territory was created out of Oregon Territory.[2] While on that court he served as Chief Justice from 1858 to 1861.[2] In 1861, he would become the president of the Washington Legislature's Council Chamber and would serve on that body until 1864 representing Thurston, Lewis and Chehalis counties.[2][4] Also from 1855 to 1856 he fought in the Yakima War against the Yakima Indians.[2]

McFadden then returned to private law practice, setting up office in Olympia, Washington.[2] Then in 1872 he was elected as a Democrat to represent the territory in the 43rd United States Congress.[1] He served as a delegate from March 4, 1873 to March 3, 1875, and was not a candidate for renomination to the position. McFadden died in Olympia on June 25, 1875 and was buried at the Masonic Cemetery.[1]

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress website http://bioguide.congress.gov.